Anybody free to be presidential candidate, spokesman says

He said it was the right of those prominent figures to nominate themselves or be nominated for the presidency or vice presidency. "Let the people judge them," he said.

In response to a question whether President Yudhoyono would also declare his candidacy for the 2009 election, Malarangeng said the president had not yet thought about it because he was at present focusing his attention on his job.

"The President does not want to think about the 2009 presidential election now because his term will run for two more years. So, it`s better to focus on his job," he said.